The Fire and DC United are battling for the 2023 MLS Cup Final. MLS has decided to just forgo the rest of the season and selected the old warhorses of the Fire and United to participate. Sure, MLS have pissed off Apple TV with the decision, but they don't care. It is about damned time that DC United (4 MLS Cups and 3 US Open Cups) and Fire (1 MLS Cup and 4 US Open Cups) meet for something meaningful. Might as well be for MLS Cup 2023 (Look at the date) So, the latest tilt between two once proud MLS franchises that have fallen on hard times over the past many years. The mighty battle of the 20 and 24the ranked MLS Teams (per MLS' Power Rankings). This is the 68th meeting between the two teams, according to the Fire's website. It appears (but I cannot confirm) that the Fire have won 25, DC United have won 22, with 21 draws, although that would mean this is the 69th meeting.. DC is winless in four of their five games (having won their first game). The Fire have sucked for 13 years or more, as we all know. DC United has sucked just as long, but has had a few bright spots, winning the 2013 US Open Cup. They are led by Belgian superstar and, ultimate failure, Christian Benteke He is having a very good season so far, fourth in the league in the goals, with 3 goals. The other DPs are Taxiarchis Fountas (Greek national team player) and Mateusz Klich (Polish national player signed from Leeds). Fountas had a great season last season, scoring 12 goals in only 21 games. The Fire come off their first win of the season, a late, late winning on Saturday night in Miami. Fire "Digital Host" Megan O'Keefe claims that the Fire have momentum from Saturday and will carry that through the match tomorrow. Let's hope so! No idea who will start or play on Saturday. Navarro and Torres are out. Shaqiri is questionable. Weather is scheduled to be cold (41 for the high, dropping into the 30's by game time), with a 50/50 chance of rain. Too bad, it is supposed to 57 and sunny on Sunday. Our friends at Meninred97 are predicting the following: I guess we will see.
Men in Red also put out a whole preview. My prediction was spot on last week and this week I say we're losing in dramatic fashion. https://meninred97.com/district-xi-chicago-fire-vs-d-c-united-matchday-6-preview/
As to the survey: Forget Macy's. To quote Jello: "Trash a bank, if ya got real balls". I see Jig's vote up there.
I'm just being asked to drop links. One of us around here needs to pick up the slack and fill in the space left by FanAddict and start posting news threads so I have a better place to put them (I do not have the time to do it). I think that DC is a lot better than people have been giving them credit for. Klich and Benteke are massive difference makers and while they haven't shown up just yet, it takes one game to turn around. It's the same for the Fire, which means that this is a possible crossroad for both teams early in the season and a lot of the time, the Fire don't win that matchup. I don't think it'll be a "crushing defeat" so much as the late collapse that we're all used to. Just with an extra goal tossed in.
Honestly @xtomx you have the best polls and the game day thread has become your burden as the rabble demand it! Thanks for that. That would be something stupid for SURE! Yes this ^ is true. I've thought about it and maybe I can start giving it a try? I'm now self employed and although I try to get to working by 8am (leave by 7:30am) I often wake up at 5:45 to start my coffee drinking journey and get things sorted out. I guess it's not that much extra work to dig for a few articles either each morning or each evening. In other news I was surprised to learn Patrick Nyarko was back with the Fire working with the academy and was pleased to learn so and wondered why that wasn't given a bit more fan fare by the front office? Did I miss something?
He's been there since the end of 2021. It was a slow hire for him to get in that specific spot because they were still working out the creation of Fire II, but I remember they did something for him.
Trying to mimic the shitty EPL again with this crap tv schedule/format. It sucks and we should stop trying to be the EPL.
The 7:30 start sucks, but I’ll be there. Fire will win by six goals, 4-0. Guti scores a brace, Czichos hits a PK, and Kacpar nets a hat trick. Dress warm, y’all.
I hate cold weather games. My son and I arrived early and took a walk around the stadium before heading back to the car. Should have gone straight to the tailgate.
Somewhat surprisingly, the Fire do have a starting XI Shaqiri does not make the bench again. I guess we don't have to worry about him not running tonight.
What a cross from the industrious Johnathan Dean! Please guys, please, don't start telling me about his "work-rate." Him and a lot of these grinders shouldn't be on the field.
Can we possess please? Instead of launching it down the field every-time one of our players facing a little incy bit of pressure?
Frankly, I have not seen enough of him to make as decision, but handing the starting spot to a 25 year old guy who a career USL Championship player is not exactly comforting or ideal. That said, I would like to see what he has to offer before I comment further.